Is MagSafe the same as Qi charging? Not exactly. While they both use Qi to wirelessly charge your iPhone, MagSafe incorporates magnets into the design to ensure perfect charging alignment. Additionally, even though you can power up your iPhone with any Qi charger, certified MagSafe ones are faster. Because we explored MagSafe in our last post, we will examine the origin of the Qi standard, and explain its relationship with Apple, iPhone and MagSafe.

What is Qi Standard?

Established in 2008, the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) is an open standards development group with over 300 member companies from around the world. According to its website, it has "one goal", which is to work "together as one group...to define and redefine global standards in wireless power". In the same year it was founded, they created Qi charging as a wireless industry standard.  Specifically, the technology harnesses inductive charging to create an electrical current.

MagSafe vs Qi Charging

In 2017, Apple joined the WPC. In September 2017, it introduced the iPhone 8, their first smartphone with wireless Qi charging capabilities. Up until that point, users of iPhone 7 or older had had to rely on wired charging, but with the advent of iPhone 8, users could join those who used Samsung and other mobile devices that enjoyed the ease and convenience of wireless charging.

In 2020, Apple would introduce MagSafe to iPhones. A series of magnets placed around the Qi wireless charging technology, which were built into the back of every phone. The magnets embedded around the Qi charger would make the phone "stick" to exactly the right spot for optimal powering up.

To meet the WPC standard, iPhone 12 through 16 are compatible with Qi chargers; however, they charge much slower. If you've ever tried to wireless charge at the airport, you know what I'm talking about! So, why is that? Apple chose to favor its certified MagSafe chargers. If you use a certified MagSafe charger, it charges at 15 watts for iPhone 12-15, and 25 watts for iPhone 16. On the other hand, Qi chargers are limited to 7.5 watts. Apple adhered to the WPC standard, but they made certified MagSafe chargers work faster with iPhones.  

To Sum It Up

iPhones 8-16 can all power up with Qi charging and max out at 7.5 watts. For faster powering up, you'd need to use a certified MagSafe charger with iPhone 12-16.